Kiel Poore has been a diabetic for as long as he can remember. He attributes his success with diabetes not to a gadget but, to something more powerful (read on to find out what this is). He has a passion for helping others with diabetes to reclaim their health and motivation and has started a business as a Diabetes Life Coach. Below, I interview him to find out just what he is all about and to let you all know this option is available to us diabetics.

First of all Kiel, tell us about yourself.

Lets see to start off I was born in South Bend, Indiana. I have a loving family with one brother, Chris, two sisters, Jeni & Ashley, and of course loving parents, Thane & Susan. I was diagnosed with diabetes at two years old. I had gotten the chicken pox really bad. It ended up going inside and outside of my body leading to pancreatitis and destroying my pancreas, eventually giving me diabetes. My mother, who is a nurse, noticed the signs of diabetes with urination every 15 minutes, complaining about being tired, have cramps in the stomach, etc. She took me to the doctors and new I had it. Since then we have all become diabetic specialists you could say :) We had no family history of diabetes so we all had to learn it quick. Of course it took some time, but eventually it becomes second nature. We ended up moving out to New Mexico roughly 10 years ago due to the bad weather back in the Midwest. Since then, I am just about done with my HRTM (Hotel, Restaurant, Tourism, and Management) and Marketing degrees. I will be fully done with those in December 2010, while on the side I do my Diabetic Life Coaching Business. I was also recently engaged to a beautiful and extraordinary woman, Erin Pitcher. Life is too short, you have to live every day as if it were your last!

I read you’re engaged! Congratulations! What is your future bride´s take on your diabetes? Is she very supportive?

Yes ma’am I am engaged to a beautiful and extraordinary woman, Erin Pitcher. I know Erin’s take on Diabetes is just like everyone else who, before they met someone with diabetes, never really knew what to expect. Since we have been together I know at first she was scared but was willing to learn. I would catch her at times I went to visit her up in Albuquerque that she would buy several books on Diabetes and have read them all. She has been very supportive and is always here to help and if she ever gets lost or confused she is always asking questions on what she can do or help with the next time around.
When you have Diabetes and are looking for the right one, you always look for the one you know is going to love you for you and be supportive as much as possible because diabetes is a very hard disease to live with. I can say now that I found that person! :) She was recently diagnosed with having Celiacs and now we are supportive of each other and watch out for each others health as much as possible!

Have you always been so positive about your diabetes? If not, what turned you around?

To be honest no I was not always positive about diabetes. Being diagnosed at a young age, it is hard to fully know what life without diabetes ever was. To me, Diabetes is normal. But also with that said, growing up through my teenage years when I just wanted to be a teenager and have fun with friends and live my life, I can honestly say I was not always positive. I would go through times where I was depressed or upset that because of my diabetes I couldn’t go do something with friends. But I think the thing that helped keep me staying positive were my parents. They always told me that even though I had diabetes they knew I was going to go far in life and that I was going to change lives. Anytime I had something wrong with diabetes or upset because of diabetes they would talk with me, cry with me if i needed, or laugh and get me back on track. Any diabetic needs those caring people around you to be there for them. It is because of them that I am who I am today.

What sparked your interest in being a Diabetes Life Coach?

I have always had that spark to help people, I just never knew when and what I would be doing. It was a few years back in a college course where I was sitting in lecture with around 150 people when all the sudden a student a few rows behind me had collapsed. Everyone turns to see what happened and the professor ran to the students aid. The professor was smart enough to check for a bracelet to see if he was a student with disability. I ended up coming up with the teacher and helped him look when I ended up seeing the student had his diabetic alert symbol but he hid it on a necklace inside his shirt so no one would see. I always carry glucose tablets, but it was three days before that, that I had been to a diabetic event held in las cruces and was given a sample of glucose gel. So I remembered I had that and ran to my bag, broke off the top and started pouring some glucose in the guys mouth. The professor had called the EMTs and by the time they had started to arrive, the guy had started to wake up when I then gave him some actual glucose tablets. He was a little shaken but seemed to be well when everything was done. By the time he left I had a bunch of people, I guess you could say, clap and cheer for me saying that I did an amazing job. Since then I have been doing anything and everything to help diabetics in every way possible until the day we find a cure which I have a feeling is not far off.

Why do you think this helps people? What have people said to you after working with them?

I believe this helps people because we all want someone who has gone through some of the same things we have whether that is with diabetes or life in general. I love to give people that spark, to make them feel like diabetes may be first on their priority of things, but all their goals and dreams should and will happen. Making people feel good about themselves and what their doing is what I love to do any day and everyday.
Some things people have mentioned to me is that they are glad there is someone out there that has experienced so much and yet is still successful and following through with goals. People have told me that helps spark their fire and make them start to follow through with things. I have also had other Diabetics tell me that I have made them want to start taking care of themselves and that they don’t mind anymore if the whole world knows they have Diabetes because if the day was to ever come where they needed help, someone could save their life.
There should be no diabetic who hides that they have it. Trust me I have been there and done that and all I was doing was putting my life in jeopardy. Letting people know and spreading the word on what diabetes can do will help others want to continue helping us find the cure!

What different options do people have when they contact you?

People have any option they would like. If they were to go to my website www.diabetesandlife.webs.com they can see my option plan. But my main focus is to make them feel good about themselves because like I have said before, once you are happy with yourself and accept things, diabetes gets easier.
The options I have listed don’t have to stay the same. I will work with ANY diabetic no matter what. They can call or email me through my website or find my Diabetic Life Coach page on facebook.com. I will never turn down from helping a diabetic. I am not in this to make millions. :)

What does a typical session look like?

The typical session is where I learn about the client. Ask them all the questions they may have and then of course answer them. Secondly we look at any problems they may be having and then we brainstorm for solutions on how they can get better and feel better about their diabetes. I then light that spark and after the session I make sure to stay in contact with them for sessions 2-3 which are included in the first session. So basically you are paying one price for three sessions. Usually by the third session I notice a HUGE change in the client and then we stay in contact as friends. It is the greatest feeling in the world. Of course after that session if they have any more questions they can email, call, or facebook me and I will answer of course for free no matter what. Like I said I am not in this to make millions, I just want to be able to help as many Diabetics as possible!

Who should call you?

ANYONE and everyone should call. Diabetics, Family members, anyone who knows a diabetic they care about who may have questions or need suggestions. But as I state I am a Diabetic Life Coach, I am not a doctor. I don’t prescribe medicine or tell you to take certain medications. I give clients tips and tricks on what I do and how I stay healthy and positive. I make sure all my clients know this. If they need medicine, a change in prescription or are having major problems they need to see a doctor or nurse IMMEDIATELY!

What do you hope for your business say, 5 years down the road?

I hope that within 5 years my business will spread throughout the world and that I can get a team of Diabetic Life Coaches. Like I have said before this is a side job but something I take to the heart very seriously. Hopefully within a few years I will take time off of my full-time job and then go traveling the world for months at a time finding diabetics who need help or care and be there for them. We don’t have too much longer until there is a cure, but until then I want to help be a inspiration to as many diabetics as possible!

And finally, what is the most important factor in your diabetes? In other words, what thing do you always make sure to do in order to stay healthy?

The most important factor is my happiness. It is like the great Patch Adams said “Happiness can cure almost anything”. When he said that I think he meant that the happier we are the better our bodies fight off problems and/or are easier to fix. The happier I am the more I want to make sure my blood sugars are good, to make sure I exercise daily, to make sure my overall health stays well. I then surround myself with the people who make me happy and I use that everyday to continue fighting this deadly disease until that cure is found soon!

Thank you so much Sysy for allowing me to be interviewed for your website. You are an inspiration to all women who have diabetes. I am glad we have been able to find each other and look forward to working with you on more things in the near future!

Kiel

Thanks Kiel!

Personally, I very much like the idea of a Diabetes Life Coach. I often write about the emotional and mental aspects of diabetes because I feel those aspects are just as important as the diabetes regime one follows. If a person feels no hope or feels lonely or depressed, their diabetes will be very difficult to control.

A Diabetes Life Coach that someone connects with can provide a huge sense of relief and inspiration and hope. And often something that really helps is a listening ear and particularly, one that truly understands what we are dealing with. If you feel like this could help you, contact Kiel to set up an appointment. My hunch is you won’t regret it and it sounds like you’ll make a new friend as well :)

I can tell you my conversations with him led me to the conclusion that he is a very genuine person.  He is full of empathy and insight into our world with diabetes and I find his positivity and energy inspiring.  So with that said he’s got a thumbs up from me.

To visit Kiel’s website click here

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